San Francisco Opera Review

Rusalka was amazing, but 3 hours it's quite long...

One of the loveliest opera houses in the world, with well chosen performances and top tier performers.

They do what they can to make opera available to all. I'm thankful for cheap standing room tickets! And the company is innovative. The ring cycle a few years back was amazing!

love the local designers..but mobey is the dactor. doubt they cover all their coats just by ticket sales. thanks to those money donating to a lovely AMERICAN prduction done well, but wobder how many r just not familiar w. Beyonces CARMEN...check it out. Fun, cheaper than seeing her at Oracle

I've seen shows here with spectator staging, great music, and excellent acoustics. Regardless of where one sits, the scenes are projected onto screens, and the shots are framed in a way that feels cinematic.

While the performances are generally quite good, the audience facilities such as chairs, bathrooms, etc. need much improvement.

Magnificent building. Great ancillary facilities. World class ballet. Seats are small, though.

Arrived at this venue for a private Google City Experts event, so my impression may be a little skewed as we were treated very well. The building itself was magnificent with nice views back towards the city from the gallery level (although I remember much more sweeping views from the adjacent symphony hall). We got to tour back stage and see the dressing rooms of the performers and were entertained by a performance from a couple Alder Fellows of the SF Opera. I would expect this venue to put on some quite glamorous events and would definitely recommend a trip as the hosts were extremely friendly and just taking in the architecture while listening to opera would be amazing.

Lovely place to watch "It's a Wonderful Life"!! Loved it and the theater did a fantastic job with production. As a first timer, the emails sent beforehand helped give some tips and what to expect. We were seated in the balcony circle center and had a great view. There were subtitles above the stage for people to follow along and we picked a night with OperaVision where there are live close ups/subtitles on screens for balcony views on both the right and left. Extremely glad they had the closeup views to see the costumes and facial expressions better, otherwise you should bring binoculars if you're in balcony. Highly recommend this theater.

I've gone to see the Nut cracker last year and it was really good. They sell cheap tickets (about $25) for the standing area. Don't be late!

I'm sort of an opera newby and this is a fabulous place to be introduced to the splendor and extravagance of opera. Performances here feel big and bold and excitingly dramatic. They work hard to make every visitor feel very welcome here.

Beautiful Opera house, great productions. If you like Opera this is a must see.

We went for the ethnic dance festival, this is something not to be missed, such color, vibrancy, and good feeling. The event starts in front of the building, continues in the lobby, then a long performance followed by the after party back in the lobby.

Fabulous Building...Performers Quality B+ for Opera

We go to the opera several times per year. Outstanding performances.

Wonderful building. Restaurant in lower floor is very convenient but the quality of food is dependent on the catering company.

I have been here for the local Opera. This place is fantastic to catch great shows. It's conveniently located close to some good restaurants as well. I recommend this place for good shows and places to eat afterward.

The show was wonderful. The sets were stunning. The seats, uncomfortable & room was hot & humid.

Facilities are nice with a buffet before, if you know

If opera is trying to attract the younger generation, perhaps it would be best to leave out rape scenes as in the recent SF production of Aida. Not only was the victory rape dance distasteful it also probably re- traumatized women who had experienced rape. Not really a subject for entertainment. The music was lovely; however, there were so many ugly distractions in scenery and costumes and , oh yes, the rape, that we really couldn't focus on the music. We left at intermission.

This is one of the world's most beautiful Opera Houses with some of the world's best Productions. Anyone who comes to San Francisco should put this on the must-see list.

Absolutely beautiful and the acoustics are excellent!

Finding parking is a nightmare. Cocktails are overpriced. Staff courtesy is awful. No thanks.

Lovely opera house and great production - contemporary and imaginative. Really enjoyed it :)

Beautiful theatre with amazing sound. Great place for the opera. also perfect view of City Hall from the balcony upstairs.

The space is beautiful and the performances are first class.

Grand opera it its grandest. This time the entire Ring cycle. It doesn't get grander than that.

Criminal behavior against the genius of the world music - maestro Placido Domingo

First class opera house. A beautiful venue and wonderful opera company. The performances are always interesting.

There are too many ways to describe this place. The building is beautiful, the views are spectacular and you can never go wrong with any performance here.

Tip: Place your drink order for intermission before the show starts. It will be waiting for you and you can avoid the lines. Also, the women's restroom in the basement is huge.

Absolutely gorgeous venue. Came here for a private event and got to have some amazing drinks and food in addition to a little opera show and a tour of the opera house.

Such a gem in the city of San Francisco. :)

Nice building. Saw Shen Yun which was beautiful to watch. If I come back to see another performance, I will invest in paying for a seat closer to the stage.

Beautiful opera house - I have seen some great acts come through here. It is also very accessible via public transportation - I would be wary of driving here.

World class performers in a beautiful Beaux-Arts building. Highly recommended for opera or ballet fans.

Pros: fast Wifi; availability of Blue Bottle coffee; very friendly staffers; a convenient place to work in Palo Alto.

Cons: boy is it noisy in here. I rented one of the "quiet" rooms once to take a call. The person on the other end of the line asked me if I was in a bar. Another con is, though the food is delicious, it is pretty heavy. It would be nice to have some lighter options.

Always a wonderful experience. It's not the Met, but the next best thing.
The higher up you go in floors, the closer you need to be towards the balcony, because the hotter it gets-air circulation.

Great venue for opera! Architecture is amazing. Very historic place.

Had to go for music class and it was surprisingly entertaining, I always had that stigma that operas were boring but the one I watched (it's a wonderful life) had such current problems intertwined within its storyline like suicide. Definitely reccomend to watch 1 just for the experience $10 standing room worth it

I came to the Opera House for the Google city experts evening and was incredibly impressed by this majestic place. There is a live orchestra for each opera and beautiful set designs. They also go to great care to make sure each and every guest has a wonderful experience. The costume, wigs and other accessories are incredibly authentic as well. I am looking forward to my first show here.

Always a great multimedia experience. A traditional and beautiful production with solid performances and voices. Bravo

This was a really fun experience. I bought tickets for my friend who was in town and we really enjoyed the show. The play was sung in italian, but they had projected supertitles which made it easier to follow along. The history and decadence of the theater is breathtaking!!

Beautiful facility, helpful ushers, great opera. Walkable from Civic Center BART.

Wonderful performance, wonderful decorations, and great to sing auld lang syne at the end!

I saw the Shostakovich trilogy here on a Friday night. The building itself is incredible. The inside space is much taller than I was expecting, which means a lot of stairs, and the ambiance feels very old European. I did realize such an environment existed in SF.

I attended Saturday for Tosca and today for the Domingo Concert. Both very enjoyable. And now I am dinning at Chapeau.

Tosca- A wonderous opera You leave with your heart not broken but Reinforced

Great Rusalka 2019! Wonderful set and choreography! Really cool moments with characters appearing from the floor and from the fireplace!

Really enjoyed the nutcracker. Staff were excellent.

I looove SFO! San Francisco Opera is widely considered one of the best opera houses in the country. The company has been around a while and maintains the highest standard of art. If you live in the city, it s pretty special to go out to the opera during the week or Sunday afternoon :).

San Francisco Opera provides first class entertainment the symphony the sets the cast the chorus the ambience all make for a fantastic evening a little known secret are the standing room only tickets which are $15 and for sale one hour before the show it is really the way to see the opera if you re not too familiar it is an inexpensive way to enjoy the opulence stay as long as you like and an easy exit

Absolutely fantastic resident chorus and orchestra.

Don't be late or you'll be seated in the worse area than what you've paid for.

Very nice performance theatre, with clean bathrooms, friendly staff, and an overall beautiful building.

SF Opera was just OK a few decades ago, but has become really good in recent years, especially under the direction of Nicola Luisotti. Highly recommended to see anything they put on. The venue itself is beautiful, as well

Along with the Ballet and the Symphony, the Opera is one of the best high-minded date spots in all of San Francisco. We have so few reasons in our casual city to dust off our fancy duds and dress to the nines, and attending the Opera is definitely one of them! The building itself is architecturally stunning, and the crowd is surprisingly diverse and fun. discounted tickets can be found locally and there are often special programs for families and students. Tip: This year's free Opera in the Park in GG Park takes place on Sunday, September 7.

We had a wonderful time. The sound was perfect, seats comfortable. Very civilized. We'll be back for sure.

Final dress rehearsal for the west coast premier of "It's a wonderful life" - Looks like its gonna be a classic.

The most gorgeous piece of architecture in San Francisco.

With my dad in the opera, I grew up with carte blanche to the backstage of the opera house. Instead of sitting bored in a seat during rehearsals, I would explore. From the dank depths of the basement to the catwalks above the stage, I use to know my way around every little niche and hideaway in the massive building. I still think about my 'junior phantom' days whenever I go see an opera.

Marvelous, historical Opera company, highest quality stars and young upcoming stars, cafe is basement is lovely and you can pre order drinks or desserts a perfect topics to impress a date. Great sets, costumes, chorus, ballet. All the arts in one night.

Aida was spectacular in a spectacular venue. Wonderful experience. My 1st time at Aida and I loved everything about it except the costumes. I was disappointed to see a modernized version. The original authentic Egyptian theme would seem to me far more appropriate. My orchestra seat row N great. My friend in row G had an empty seat beside her for the entire performance so I attempted to sit by her before 2nd half. A very rude female usher demanded I move by saying, "we don't do that." Really inappropriate at over $300/ ticket, or at any price.

Really beautiful opera House ...the roofs are well decorated

Fabulous building, interior, dining - and great opera and ballet. World Class.

Top quality and high class opera show. It was lovely and pleasant. It is well worth to visit San Francisco Opera House (if you like Opera show) while you stay in San Francisco.

It seems to me your opera house is intolerant and too quick to jump on the me too bandwagon. There have been no criminal charges brought against Domingo yet you have already made up your mind. I have been to your performances before but will no longer be attending any of your shows. What ever happened to fairness? Our courts decide these things. It appears they have taken it upon themselves to be judge, jury and executioner.

I sat in the cheap balcony seats for Tosca. The acoustics were not great up there, as the orchestra easily overpowered the singers. The Opera was great, though. The production is not as fancy as the met but still good.

The performances are incredible and the crowd just as much. I wish I could afford the pricing to go more often. I'll be back some day!

The balcony is terrible, please spend and get dress circle seats if you plan to go. The topmost part of the stage is not visible, and you can barely make out faces.

On the plus side, the snacks are good and the restrooms are mid-level opulent!